Gsm @ Stn
 

Unfortunately the base at STN will close on 31st October, the flights still show on the website but when you try and book them you can't. Website will be updated over the next few days.

Highly unlikely that it will reopen for the summer 08.

Unfortunately all these cutbacks are pointing at a carrier in trouble, if they go bust, I don't think my local MME could survive loosing another based LCC, there's no-one else who could step in - perhaps Ryanair, but doubtful.

Something is not right the TFS and LCA from stansted were/are doing very well and the YHM had just pulled its socks up. With no compertition on the TFS route, maybe EZY or FR have some plan we dont know about !

STN
 

The Carrier is not in trouble, they are pulling there aircraft and using them on more profitable routes/contracts.

The 757 started an M.O.D. contract today and there could be more aircraft going to India (737's)

So is this a way of remaking the money that is rumoured to have been lost on the long haul services?

Had problems with longhaul but the flights have always been achieving high loads even through all the tech problems with the Icelandair 757's.

The only route that wasn't getting the loads was the LPL-JFK but these are now up after being cut to 4 times a week.

Air India is a huge money maker for GSM, thats why they took all the flack last winter for using 738 for 6 trips to SFB.

So if the STN base is closing does that mean no STN-XXX-YHM flights next summer or will alternative arrangements be made?

GSM Scot:

Was the carrier making money on the ABZ routes over the summer, I'm curious to know.

BAA have denied the claims that operating costs at ABZ were to blame for the carrier pulling most of the forthcoming winter services.

Or was it indeed just a case of "use it or lose it" - & the area duly "lost it".

Well the majority of YHM flights went through non-hub airports I believe, - LPL, NCL, BFS and probably more? So probably.

On a similar note, does anyone know what the loads were like on the STN-NCL-YHM route?

ABZ
 

ABZ was very busy during the summer with full loads on almost every flight but there was a big drop in demand for the winter.

That and the high BAA costs meant the base would be unmanned through the winter.

There is talk of the YHM starting off from LGW in May next year instead of STN although not confirmed as yet.

This aint washing with me for one, Loads were very good on all STN routes, there is more to all this than meets the eye :=

Loads on all stn flights very good . i dont think so
ive done a fair few of those trips, some via ncl/bfs/bhx
all the pax get on at the stop, one of the flights from stn had 2 people on it then was full from bhx, another via ncl had 22 from stn full from ncl
been like it nearly all summer,
The co have said GLA/LGW/MAN exceeded there expectations

DONTTELLTHEPAX think you need to stop :=

GSM SCOTT I guessed as much:E GSM's only major success seems to be in aircraft leasing, though how long capacity shortage in the leasing market will support GSM is any body's guess..... and then what?:eek:

GSM
 

Time will tell but you can hardly call leasing two aircraft to Air India
"a major success in aircraft leasing" can you ?

I suspect its the old story of yield and load factor. Coming out of STN is a big move backwards and definately indicates a wider problem in the business.

True, but when you take into account the hope to lease out up to four B737-800's in place of two 700's it puts a slightly different slant on things.

738's
 

There is only two 738's at the most possibly going to Air India.

The lease is only for the winter with ALL aircraft being back in the GSM flying program by May 08

STN flights from November on have now been removed from the website.

Ah, but I didn't mention Air India.

CWL charters
 

You could be referring to the CWL charters then !

Its the same with loads of airlines, excel send aircraft away in the winter mytravel do thomas cook, why is it such a big deal if GSM do
Its called earning money